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Phono Level Low with Onkyo TX-2500

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Dan Zanes

New Member
Greetings! This is my first time putting a question in AK but I’ve pored over these threads and learned so much. Thank you all!
I have a Onkyo TX-2500 that I really like. Since I bought it last year the phono level has been much lower than the radio or tape inputs. I have to turn the phono up almost 3/4 of the way to fill the room with sound. Almost no head room.
I tried a different receiver and everything was fine so it’s not the TT.
Do any of you have thoughts for me? The sound is good but I’d really like it to work properly…
Thank you!
 
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Dan Zanes said:
Greetings! This is my first time putting a question in AK but I’ve pored over these threads and learned so much. Thank you all!
I have a Onkyo TX-2500 that I really like. Since I bought it last year the phono level has been much lower than the radio or tape inputs. I have to turn the phono up almost 3/4 of the way to fill the room with sound. Almost no head room.
I tried a different receiver and everything was fine so it’s not the TT.
Do any of you have thoughts for me? The sound is good but I’d really like it to work properly…
Thank you!
Click to expand...
could be something as simple as a dried out capacitor. tough to say without taking a look though. Your other option is to buy an outboard phono stage. If you got one of the EAR clones it has adjustable volume on the front you could use to match the tuner level on your Onkyo.
 
Old Onkyo stuff has issues with the selector switches and the push buttons controls, especially the tape loop buttons on receivers (not a design issue, they just get dirty and are hard to get to to keep clean) If you can get them cleaned up and keep them that way they work just fine. My A7 Integrated had intermittent issues with the selector switch, it is fixed for now (until it gets dirty again).

My TX- 4500MKII receiver drops channels, but they come back after pushing the tape 2 buttons several times- all the outputs are tied into the tape loops, so I now give them all several in/outs before turning the unit on.
 
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Well if the unit were in fine working order I would say from looking at the specs that line inputs are about 6 db to sensitive. The Phono sensitivity is in the right area. So That maybe the issue, but I doubt it. Sounds like you have some switcing issues where maybe dirt and pollution has compromised some thing inside the unit. It might be dirty input jacks on the back of the unt, or bad circuit connections or filthy selector switches. Something has obviously changed .

It maybe cheaper to find a newer properly working unit than pay todays high labor rates to get the unit fixed.
 
mcgjohn said:
could be something as simple as a dried out capacitor. tough to say without taking a look though. Your other option is to buy an outboard phono stage. If you got one of the EAR clones it has adjustable volume on the front you could use to match the tuner level on your Onkyo.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I appreciate that idea. I'm trying anything else I can before spending more money but this may be the move. I don't know anything about EAR clones, still learning as I go here....
 
krautmaster said:
Old Onkyo stuff has issues with the selector switches and the push buttons controls, especially the tape loop buttons on receivers (not a design issue, they just get dirty and are hard to get to to keep clean) If you can get them cleaned up and keep them that way they work just fine. My A7 Integrated had intermittent issues with the selector switch, it is fixed for now (until it gets dirty again).

My TX- 4500MKII receiver drops channels, but they come back after pushing the tape 2 buttons several times- all the outputs are tied into the tape loops, so I now give them all several in/outs before turning the unit on.
Click to expand...
thank you, I was really hoping that these suggestions would get me somewhere but no luck. I tried the front and back with deoxit and took off the top and got in there behind the panel...no luck though.
 
rothwellaudio said:
If you have to turn it up 3/4 of the way, you have lots of headroom. If you only had to barely touch the volume control you'd have very little headroom.
Click to expand...
ahhh....thank you. I thought headroom was the amount that you can still dial in after it gets to a reasonable volume. Thinking if it's at 3/4 of the way turned up and still not too loud there's only 1/4 of the dial left. I can probably use better terms here but I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say. Thank you for clarifying.
 
twiiii said:
Well if the unit were in fine working order I would say from looking at the specs that line inputs are about 6 db to sensitive. The Phono sensitivity is in the right area. So That maybe the issue, but I doubt it. Sounds like you have some switcing issues where maybe dirt and pollution has compromised some thing inside the unit. It might be dirty input jacks on the back of the unt, or bad circuit connections or filthy selector switches. Something has obviously changed .

It maybe cheaper to find a newer properly working unit than pay todays high labor rates to get the unit fixed.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering that too...the one I have was expensive by AK standards I think - $250 - and it would hurt to spend close to that for phono volume issue...
 
Throwing this out there. Is the needle correctly installed in the turntable? We used to see ADC needles that weren't all the way on, or certain replacement styli which didn't fit right. Also, Audio Technica needles can be not in all the way, and will work fine but low output. They "click" when all the way in...Can you try another cartridge, or another receiver to make sure the culprit is the receiver? My 2 cents
 
Dan Zanes said:
Thank you, I appreciate that idea. I'm trying anything else I can before spending more money but this may be the move. I don't know anything about EAR clones, still learning as I go here....
Click to expand...
NP.

It may be worth looking into.

here is one of the threads on it. Even if you Onkyo phono stage was not giving you a problem, the EAR clone should be a really nice upgrade over the stock unit. The clone is a Chinese knock off of the real EAR 834 Phonobox made in England which sold new for 2500 USD. The clones sell for 250 to 450 depending on which version you buy. Its one of the best values in outboard phono stages. A person can buy them as MM only or MM and MC inputs. The MC inputs usually have a step up transformer inside. For those into DIY, there are even sellers who offer the PCB board and allow the person to build their own case and power supply. Or a person can buy a plug and play unit.

Douk Chi-Fi clone phono preamp - EAR 834P ?

Hey folks while researching phono pre’s I began wondering about the EAR 834P - which is apparently fairly well regarded - that is, the genuine version is fairly well regarded. Looking at fleabay, I see that Douk is offering their bootleg version of one. Anyone here using one of Douk’s EAR 834P...
audiokarma.org
 
I seen a 2500 MKII for sale locally. They were asking 200 bucks, said it was in good condition. Worth every penny if you ask me. Probably cheaper than a repair bill
 
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